Also called: Airport Law Enforcement Officer, Aviation Police Officer
Patrols a major airport: terminals, curbs, runways and cargo areas, responding to everything from lost kids to unruly passengers and security breaches.
Airport officers start shifts with briefings on flights and threats, then patrol terminals on foot, bikes or carts. They respond when TSA finds a gun in a bag, remove violent passengers from planes, and help travelers with medical emergencies. Some guard the airfield perimeter or work with bomb dogs near cargo.
Big-city airport police are often paid like city police. Estimate.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 1 year after high school. High school diploma or some college, plus a police academy; airport-specific training after hire.
Ways in: On-the-job training, Certification, 2-year college. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Criminal Justice, Aviation Management, Homeland Security.
Growing about average (about 3% over 10 years). BLS police and detectives, 2024-34; this assignment is a small slice (approx.).
Low risk for 10 years. Cameras and screening tech grow; responding to people and emergencies stays human.
Classes: Government, Physical education, Spanish.
Official data: O*NET occupation 33-3051.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.